Look Beyond the Name

This email arrived in my personal inbox and claimed to be from our priest.

At first glance, it looks legitimate because the sender's name says "Reverend Doug Bleyle." But don't stop there—always look at the actual email address. This message came from a random Gmail account, not Fr. Doug's official email address.

Also notice the wording. If you've communicated with Fr. Doug before, you know this isn't his normal style. The message is unusually formal, vague, and asks me to wait for more details—a common tactic scammers use to start a conversation before asking for money, gift cards, or other favors.

One more clue: the scammer wasn't even sure which email address belonged to me, so they sent the message to multiple possible addresses in hopes that one would work.

Always ask yourself:

• Is this the correct email address?

• Does this sound like the person I know?

• Does the request make sense?

When something feels even a little "off," take a moment to verify it before responding.

P.S. If you know Fr. Doug, you also know this doesn't sound like him. His emails are much more personal and conversational, and he doesn't use an email signature like this. He’s not this uptight!